2011 NBA Mock Draft 5.0

With the big event just hours away, updates continue to filter in. Here's the latest projection of how the first round will unfold Thursday night.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

1

PG

Kyrie Irving

Duke

Fr.

6-4

191

Well, at least we had something to talk about up top here. After nearly a week of chatter that the Cavs might not take the Duke point guard after all, rival executives are back to believing he's the pick. Irving will solidify the spot and be a very solid piece of the Cavs' core that must continue to be reshaped. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

2

PF

Derrick Williams

Arizona

So.

6-8

248

Every time I'm asked if there's one player in this draft with All-Star potential, a Williams highlight reel from his March Madness run starts playing in my head. Unless the Timberwolves find the impact, veteran player they're hoping to acquire by trading this pick, it's continuing to sound as if the high-flying big man with a dangerous inside-out game will be the pick -- Michael Beasley be darned. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

3

C

Enes Kanter

Kentucky

Fr.

6-11

259

The Jazz remain somewhat of a mystery, with sources saying it has come down to Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight or the Wildcats teammate he never played with in Kanter. But I'm told that general manager Kevin O' Connor sees Kanter as the third-best player in the draft (behind Irving and Williams) and is seriously considering going big here despite the fact that he badly wants a replacement for veteran point guard Devin Harris. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

4

C

Jonas Valanciunas

Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)

---

6-11

240

As was first reported by ESPN.com, it sounds as if the Cavaliers believe Valanciunas' overseas contract isn't as bad as they had thought. According to a source from an interested team, the buyout that has yet to be finalized mandates that he play for Lietuvos Rytas next season because his presence is required for the cash-poor club to receive significant and sorely needed sponsorship money. Yet the team isn't expected to be very good even with Valanciunas, and is likely to miss out on the Eurocup and thus make him available as soon as January. With the NBA looking at a likely lockout, that might very well coincide with the start of the season. Texas power forward Tristan Thompson, whom we moved here in Wednesday's mock amid growing concerns about Valanciunas, shouldn't fall far.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

5

PG

Brandon Knight

Kentucky

Fr.

6-3

177

This would qualify as quite a coup for the Raptors, who already had eyes for Connecticut's Kemba Walker but would likely nab Knight here instead. There have been rumblings that president and GM Bryan Colangelo is enamored of Congolese forward Bismack Biyombo and was thinking of taking him as high as No. 5, but that's not happening if Knight is here. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

6

SF

Jan Vesely

KK Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)

---

6-11

240

The Wizards have been eager to add the 21-year-old Czech for quite some time now, and they get their shot here. Vesely's athleticism, speed and offensive versatility would fit in nicely with the group headed by point guard John Wall. That said, sources told me the Wizards are offering the No. 6 and No. 18 picks for a chance to get into the top three and grab Kanter.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

7

PG

Kemba Walker

Connecticut

Jr.

6-1

184

The Kings would strongly prefer to land a veteran impact player in exchange for the pick. But I've decided to plug in Walker over San Diego State small forward Kawhi Leonard for one simple reason: I'm hearing that Kings president Geoff Petrie apparently loves the Connecticut point guard. This is most likely the pick if Sacramento can't pull off a trade for a veteran point guard like Tony Parker. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

8

PF

Tristan Thompson

Texas

Fr.

6-9

227

The Pistons could opt for Bismack Biyombo, but Thompson has received similar -- and perhaps even more -- praise for his motor than the Congolese forward and isn't likely to fall past here. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

9

SF

Kawhi Leonard

San Diego State

So.

6-7

227

The Bobcats were hoping to add defensive help as well as scoring, and Leonard is the perfect candidate. They have had significant interest for quite some time and would be glad to get him here. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

10

SG

Klay Thompson

Washington State

Jr.

6-7

206

The Bucks might see Colorado shooting guard Alec Burks as the better prospect, but every talent evaluator I've spoken with prefers the sharpshooting Thompson over the slashing Burks. Or perhaps the Bucks go big: Coach Scott Skiles is believed to be a big fan of Marcus Morris. Valanciunas will entice them as well if he slides this far. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

11

PF

Bismack Biyombo

Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)

---

6-9

240

The Warriors would have loved to land Valanciunas, but they are very high on Biyombo and see him as the sort of defensive specialist who could make an immediate impact.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

12

PG

Jimmer Fredette

BYU

Sr.

6-3

196

The Jazz might move back in the draft, but there will be immense pressure to take Fredette here if it shakes out this way. They lost the face of their franchise in coach Jerry Sloan and then shipped Deron Williams to New Jersey not long after, and Fredette would provide a jolt to the fan base. Singleton could get the nod as well. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

13

PF

Markieff Morris

Kansas

Jr.

6-9

241

A source said the Suns would like to move forward Channing Frye back to a reserve role at some point, and the rugged Morris could eventually help to that end while adding some muscle to the front line. Klay Thompson, Fredette and Georgia Tech point guard Iman Shumpert are also believed to be receiving consideration.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

14

C

Nikola Vucevic

USC

Jr.

7-0

260

The Rockets are desperate for a true center now, what with the chronically injured Yao Ming and 6-foot-6 center Chuck Hayes facing free agency, Brad Miller recovering from microfracture surgery and Hasheem Thabeet continuing his role as an incredibly tall question mark. Vucevic measured out as the biggest prospect at the predraft combine in Chicago and has impressed in workouts. Lithuanian power forward Donatas Motiejunas is a candidate, too. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

15

SG

Alec Burks

Colorado

So.

6-6

193

The Pacers are looking for a potent player to replace Brandon Rush for the long term, and Burks could very well be that player. He declined to work out in Indiana, according to the Indianapolis Star, conceivably because his camp doesn't expect him to drop this far. But that shouldn't keep Indiana from snatching him up if he is available.

Providence point guard Marshon Brooks has no shortage of fans at Conseco Fieldhouse after his impressive workout there on June 7. Marcus Morris, Klay Thompson and Fredette are also being considered. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

16

SF

Jordan Hamilton

Texas

So.

6-9

228

For weeks, the Sixers told rival teams that they were going big with their pick. But now comes word that Hamilton is a strong possibility, a change that could be taken as a sign that Philadelphia officials are confident they can find a worthy taker for small forward Andre Iguodala sometime soon. Otherwise, Markieff Morris and Motiejunas would be seen as the most likely big men to be taken here. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

17

SF

Chris Singleton

Florida State

Jr.

6-9

225

The Knicks have attempted to move up to nab players like Fredette and Klay Thompson who fit the mold of coach Mike D'Antoni, but they also realize the need to shore up their woeful defense. Few, if any, do that as well in this draft class as Singleton. Motiejunas is also an option. A source said he worked out for the Knicks on Tuesday and played well. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

18

PF

Donatas Motiejunas

Benetton Treviso (Italy)

---

7-0

215

The Wizards are badly in need of offensive help, and Motiejunas is one of the more skilled scorers in this draft. Singleton and Tennessee small forward Tobias Harris are possibilities, too.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

19

PF

Marcus Morris

Kansas

Jr.

6-9

230

The Bobcats will likely look to go big with at least one of their two picks, and Morris would be a quality addition to fit their needs. They were one of the league's worst rebounding teams last season, and Morris can do that and much more. He is expected to be a solid pro for a long time.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

20

SG

Marshon Brooks

Providence

Sr.

6-5

195

The Timberwolves need help at shooting guard, and nabbing Brooks here would be a huge get in light of the way he has played of late. His workouts have been as impressive as any prospect's, adding to a résumé that already included his standing as the nation's second-leading scorer last season (24.6 points per game).

Shumpert, UCLA point guard Malcolm Lee and Michigan point guard Darius Morris are all being considered. UCLA small forward Tyler Honeycutt could be a possibility as well. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

21

PF

Kenneth Faried

Morehead State

Sr.

6-8

225

The Blazers are believed to be very eager to land Faried. He'll do in Portland what he does everywhere else: rebound with the same ferocity and creativity that helped him average 14.5 per game last season. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

22

SF

Tobias Harris

Tennessee

Fr.

6-8

223

This is one of the few picks that didn't change from the last two mock drafts. Harris works for the Nuggets for all the same reasons as before: versatility, coachability and the fact that coach George Karl would make the most of an 18-year-old who seems willing to fit whatever role necessary. Faried is also an option if he's still available. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

23

PG

Darius Morris

Michigan

So.

6-5

190

The Rockets don't necessarily have a need at the point with Kyle Lowry signed long term, but the playmaking Morris is believed to be on their radar. He would be worth the relatively minimal investment. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

24

PG

Reggie Jackson

Boston College

Jr.

6-3

209

No one in the draft has made teams do more detective work than Jackson, who underwent a minor knee procedure on May 17 under a cloud of darkness that sparked his disappearing act. He pulled out of Chicago predraft camp and a group workout immediately after in Minnesota, but was expected to start team workouts midway through this month.

That hasn't happened, and ESPN.com reported that Jackson's camp won't share medical records with teams. What's more, executives have been hearing word that he has a promise somewhere late in the first round or perhaps with Miami at No. 31, but they have struggled to pin down exactly where. The Thunder are one such person's best guess.

All that said, there is some buzz that Duke forward Kyle Singler has a promise somewhere in the late first round and it could very well be coming from Oklahoma City.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

25

C

Jeremy Tyler

Tokyo Apache (Japan)

---

6-11

262

You can't teach size, as they say, and Tyler fits that bill. He has measured well, comported himself well and is believed to be a project that the Celtics are hoping to take on. Tyler, to review, skipped his final year at San Diego High School and had a disastrous experience playing in Israel before doing moderately better in a subpar league in Japan. He was billed as a lottery-type talent not too long ago.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

26

PF

Justin Harper

Richmond

Sr.

6-9

228

Harper's inside-out game is among the best of the bigs in this draft, and sources continue to say he is prominent in the Mavs' thinking. His shooting prowess would fit right in on the championship roster that's chock full of sharpshooters. Power forward Nikola Mirotic (Real Madrid, Spain) is also a possibility, but he isn't expected to play in the NBA anytime soon. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

27

PG

Malcolm Lee

UCLA

Jr.

6-6

198

The combo guard might slip into the second round, but the Nets are looking for the sort of athleticism Lee can provide and they spoke highly of him after his workout in New Jersey in early June. Duke point guard Nolan Smith still makes sense, but there is so much parity among the guards down here that it's worth exploring another option. VIDEO

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

28

SF

Davis Bertans

Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia)

---

6-10

210

The 18-year-old from Latvia could be a low-risk, high-reward pick for the Bulls, who are more than deep enough already that they can let Bertans continue to develop with his Euroleague team for a year or two before reaping the benefits later.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

29

PF

Nikola Mirotic

Real Madrid (Spain)

---

6-10

210

The 20-year-old from Serbia isn't expected to play in the NBA anytime soon because of his contract with Real Madrid, but the Spurs are deep enough that they can make an investment like this on a player who, according to some talent evaluators around the league, has All-Star talent. Georgia power forward Trey Thompkins is expected to be considered here as well.

PICK

TEAM

POSITION

PLAYER

CLASS

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

30

PG

Shelvin Mack

Butler

Jr.

6-3

209

The Bulls might not wind up with this pick or their No. 28. Sources said they are offering both to a number of teams with the hopes of moving up. If they do stay here, though, Mack is said to be on their radar as an underrated player who could evolve into a backup for Derrick Rose. VIDEO

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